Get ready for a bonanza of awesome at Small Business Week Calgary 2016

What's happening for Small Business Week Calgary

Small Business Week Calgary is finally here! 🎉This is Canada's biggest celebration of small business, and there is a lot going on.

Here's a couple highlights we're looking forward to:

Head to SBWYYC.com to check out the full calendar of events, and even add your own if you've got one going on!

 
Ad: Stawowski McGill – Education forum
Ad: Achieve Business Coaching
Ad: Silver Springs Golf & Country Club
 

From the blog

SBWYYC guest blog: How to improve your company’s productivity and boost profits

SBWYYC guest blog: How to improve your company’s productivity and boost profits

How does your business compare to the competition? Are you more or less efficient? Do you have higher costs? Benchmarking is a simple and effective way to get a snapshot of how you’re doing in terms of productivity, cost control and other areas. Once you know where your business stands, you can start improving and reaping the benefits on the bottom line.

In this week's guest blog from BDC, you can learn how to measure your performance in key areas and benchmark it against other companies in your industry. 

 
 
Conditions of success: A modern and vibrant national transportation system

[Tomorrow] Conditions of success: A modern and vibrant national transportation system

📅 October 19th      🕒 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm      📍 Fairmont Palliser

Canada’s vast size and reliance on trade and travel mean that an efficient, competitive, and accessible national transportation system is essential to the country’s prosperity and social fabric. 

Join us to hear from Scott Streiner, Chair and CEO of the Canadian Transportation Agency, and learn about opportunities and challenges before the national transportation system – and key steps the Agency is taking to keep pace with change.

 
McLeod Law celebrates entrepreneurship: Foodies fuel Calgary’s entrepreneurial renaissance

[Tomorrow] Foodies fuel Calgary's entrepreneurial renaissance

📅 October 19th      🕒 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm      📍 National Music Centre

This event is part of Small Business Week Calgary.

Calgary used to be all meat and potatoes but these days, there's a foodie renaissance happening and it's being driven by local entrepreneurs. Join McLeod Law for an evening of up-close and personal interviews moderated by Partner Robert Fooks (aka "Fooksie") with Village Brewery's Jim Button, Jennifer Carlson and Jill Vos from Baby Gourmet, and CHARCUT's John Jackson.

 
Small Business Calgary Conference

🚨Final 40 tickets released for the Small Business Calgary Conference

📅 October 20th      🕒 12:30 pm – 9:00 pm      📍 BMO Centre

This event is part of Small Business Week Calgary.

The highlight of #SBWYYC 2016 is a half-day of professional development for entrepreneurs: the Small Business Calgary Conference, where you can attend valuable breakout sessions led by expert presenters. Check out sessions like:

  • Innovation for small business – Opportunity or threat?
  • Why SMBs can’t afford to ignore network security
  • Your business and the City of Calgary (two-part workshop)
  • Currency volatility and you: Helping businesses in Calgary introduce certainty in uncertain times
 
Fast-Growth Champions: Tech disruptors

Fast-Growth Champions: Tech disruptors

📅 October 25th      🕒 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm      📍 Double Zero Chinook

Calgary is emerging as a hub for some of the most innovative tech companies anywhere. At this Fast-Growth Champions, you'll hear from local tech disruptors who are shaking up emerging and established industries. 

Hear from:

  • Bryan de Lottinville, Founder and CEO, Benevity
  • Tom Short, Founder and President, Kudos
  • Tom Bielecki, Founder and CEO, PrintToPeer

Join us after work for a slice of award-winning Neopolitan-style pizza, and stories that show tech is thriving in Calgary.

 
Business After Hours at Cococo Chocolatiers

Business After Hours at Cococo Chocolatiers

📅 November 3rd      🕒 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm      📍 Cococo Chocolatiers

Please note that Business After Hours are members-only events.

At this uniquely interactive event hosted at the little castle-esque chocolaterie on Macleod Trail, Cococo's expert chocolatiers will handcraft a selection of their award-winning creations before your very eyes for you to sample. You will even have the opportunity to design your own chocolate creation by selecting from a variety of popular fillings and decorations.

 
Ad: Women in Leadership and Business Conference
Ad: Chamber Plan Group Insurance
Ad: brand logic marketing
 

Tips to grow your business

Digital tip: The mistakes your business can't afford to make on social media

Digital tip: The mistakes your business can't afford to make on social media

Social media has steadily become a big part of marketing strategies across the board but despite it's prevalence, there are some very common pitfalls that can impact its overall success. The thing is, they're so basic, they may actually surprise you.

The four most common mistakes include not interacting with followers, being overly promotional, not including call-to-actions (CTAs), and spreading yourself two thin. Read this article from Entrepreneur to find out more about these mistakes, and how to avoid them. 

 
 

Member insights

Chamber Member: Hatsize

Chamber Member: Hatsize

Hatsize is the leading global provider of cloud-based training labs for software and IT hardware products. Their platform enables organizations to move all IT training – both instructor-led and self-paced – to the cloud and use automated solutions to manage it effectively.
 
As a cloud service, Hatsize has successfully delivered over 2 million hours of hands-on training sessions for some of the world’s fastest growing technology and training organizations, including Veritas, New Horizons, MicroTek, and Certification Partners.

 
Save on your fuel bill with the Esso Fleet program

Save on your fuel bill with the Esso Fleet program

In turbulent times finding ways to save is more important than ever to your business' bottom line, and saving 3.5 cents per litre can make quite a difference on your monthly bill. As a Calgary Chamber member you have access to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's business savings with Esso.

Whether you have a small sales force or a large fleet of service vehicles, the Esso Business Card Program gives you exceptional fuel savings, powerful and easy-to-use fuel management tools and broad acceptance at nearly 1,800 Esso stations in Canada.

 

From our partners

Help us celebrate Calgary with #LoveYYC

Help us celebrate Calgary with #LoveYYC

Today our partners and friends at Calgary Economic Development and Tourism Calgary launched a new campaign to celebrate the countless things that make our city the most amazing city in the world. It's called #LoveYYC, and is all about celebrating all that makes our city terrific.

The Calgary Chamber is proud to support this effort, and we want to invite you to do the same. Watch the video Calgary Made, then join the conversation online with #LoveYYC.

 
Women in Leadership and Business Conference

Members save on the Women in Leadership and Business Conference

📅 November 23rd & 24th      📍 Hyatt Regency

The 8th Annual Women in Leadership and Business Conference on November 21st and 22nd, 2016 is a national, 2-day interactive learning and professional development event focused on growing your business and advancing your career. The event is designed to engage delegates with speakers and other attendees, and includes a total of 12 workshops, plus keynotes, discussion groups and networking.

To support Calgary businesses during Small Business Week Calgary, the Women in Leadership and Business Conference is offering a special Chamber Friends and Family Rate on tickets.

Use promo code CCOCVIP by October 21 to get your ticket for $499 (regular price is $1595).

 

Community leaders